What’s Making Me Happy! :: July ’16 Edition ::

It doesn’t matter if it’s physical exhaustion (why don’t you require sleep, children?), emotional exhaustion (why must I feel all the feelings all the time?), mentally exhausted (adult-ing is hard), or spiritually exhausted (where are you God?Some resting place you are!).

Excessively cranky, indeed.

It doesn’t take much (scroll through Facebook, turn on CNN, visit Donald Trump’s Twitter feed) for life to become emotionally draining, which makes it pretty easy to despair, get angry, become “excessively cranky.”

But as Christians, people who have “hope for an anchor for the soul, firm and secure,” we should be filled with “inexpressible and glorious joy.”

What’s Making Me Happy!

Listen

1. Sunday School Songs

I recently rediscovered my love of Sunday school songs. I’ve been belting out Do, Lord and Go Tell It On The Mountain and He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands. Those songs transport me back to wild and free grade-schooler Kelsey, who loved Jesus with every ounce of her being.

I want her back.

2. Dance Parties in the Kitchen

All you need is a couple of good praise songs, some awesome (read ridiculous) dance moves, and a kitchen. Joy will pour in and out of you as you worship God with your whole body!

Podcasts are a lonely (but never alone!) mom’s lifesaver. And The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey is the best of the best. Each week she interviews an amazing, imperfect woman who’s embracing her trials and giftings for the glory of God.

These women might be doing awesome things (like publishing books, founding major ministries, being Jen Hatmaker), but they are just like us. They struggle with mom insecurity, body image issues, and feeling like a failure. I will forever be recommending this podcast to all my friends. (I just went ahead and subscribed my mom.)

Read

4. Inspector Gamache series

After hearing about the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny series a b’gillion times, I finally read the first book. And I’m obsessed! Penny is an amazing writing, and I love (LOVE!) she’s still writing this series. As in the 13th book in the series releases this Fall.

5. You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life by Eleanor Roosevelt

The more I learn about Eleanor Roosevelt the more I love her. And her book, You Learn by Living, is making me fall even harder for her. She was so wise and brilliant, and I promise her book doesn’t feel dated at all. Don’t let that it was published 50-some years ago turn you off. It’s so good!

6. God’s Word

If there’s ever a month that God’s Word doesn’t make my list, please call me out! Right now I’m still working through WL2FM, and I’m getting ready to start Jennie Allen’s free study on Daniel. You should join in!

Doing

7. Working Out With God

You’ll be shocked at how joyful working out with God, as praise to God is, especially if you have struggled with it in the past. It’s truly become my “get to” instead of my “have to.” RevWell, my favorite health ministry, has a free YouTube channel and podcast.

8. Giggle Fests

Absolute ridiculous silliness with my kids always makes me happy. Dancing around like crazies. Pretending we are in the circus. Perfecting our handstands. All of it ends in giggles.

My little guy loves puzzles and games with levels. I’ve let him suck me into his joy of persevering and figuring out a particularly hard puzzle. Seeing his excitement and his joy in playing with his momma makes my slight addiction to Toy Blast worth it. 😉